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Family members on Monday said she previously had suffered from emotional problems.

Jennifer Ellis-Seitz was reported missing from Norwegian Pearl just before 5 a.m. Friday. According to news reports, there is video of a woman going overboard about eight hours earlier.

“The family suspects that Jennifer chose an unfortunate ending to her life,” family members said in a press release e-mailed to FLORIDA TODAY. “She was a beautiful and caring person and will be truly missed by all who love her.”

Family members say that Ellis-Seitz and her husband, Raymond, were celebrating their one-year anniversary on the cruise. They had invited Ellis’ mother along.

“There were no outward signs or indication of anything being wrong or unusual,” both families said in the joint statement. “Jennifer, however, has had previous emotional issues.”

The family said her husband and mother discovered her missing at around 2 a.m., saying it was common for her to walk the ship late at night when she could not get to sleep.

Ellis-Seitz worked at FLORIDA TODAY from 2000 to 2004, mainly covering breaking news for www.floridatoday.com. She recently had been working as a free-lance writer.

During the recent elections, she worked for the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Office. Records show her most recent address is in Winter Haven.

“It was a seasonal job,” said spokeswoman Judy Walker with the election’s office. “Our hearts go out to her family and our prayers and thoughts are that she will be found OK.”

Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters searched the waters off the Caribbean resort of Cancun for Ellis-Seitz.

Fifth Naval Regional Command said in a statement it had found no sign of Seitz. The search took place over 17 miles east of Cancun and beyond. Crews covered more than 2,500 square miles searching for Seitz.

Family members said that Ellis-Seitz often walked the ship into the late hours when she was having trouble sleeping. Her husband and mother did not become alarmed until 2 a.m. when she had not returned to their cabin. They searched the ship for her before alerting authoritiees an hour later.

Norwegian Cruise Line said the ship returned to Miami Sunday after a seven-day cruise.

Ellis-Seitz’s former husband, Michael Rich of Brevard County, confirmed the news. Rich said he was shocked, but did not wish to comment further. They were married in 2005 for a year.

The family press release also said: “Jennifer was in a very happy and uplifted mood both before and during the cruise. She was excited about starting a new job and her future career with a local newspaper.

Owner of NewsHound Communications Orlando area

Current Trainer/Writer at Supervisor of Elections Owner at NewsHound Communications Past Instructor at Brevard Community College Reporter at Florida Today Education: Queens University of Charlotte

Summary:

Twelve years of teaching and training experience, combined with seven years of reporting and writing experience. When I’m not teaching, writing or writing teaching materials I skydive, snorkel, SCUBA and hold a CDL Class B with passenger endorsement. I’ve also been know to karoke a mean tune.

Experience:

Trainer/Writer Supervisor of Elections (Government Administration industry)

June 2008 – Present (7 months)

Writer, producer and online enhancer of materials related to training poll workers for the upcoming elections. Specific duties include writing, creating and presenting training relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act and HAVA. In addition, I also teach classes presenting materials to classrooms of poll workers.

Owner NewsHound Communications (Media Production industry)

January 2000 – Present (9 years)

*Freelance editing, writing and media relations business specializing in Central Florida’s travel and tourism industry. Clients include editorial services for a bi-monthly newspaper in Celebration, FL. Additional services include writing, radio voice-over work, commercial writing, jingles Web design, video taping and graphic visual design.

*Supervise a staff of up to 20. Prepared press releases have picked up by several world-wide publications; a PSA for the health care agency was aired on the number one Arbitron rated afternoon show in Orlando.

*Edit, proofread and streamline materials to meet clients needs.

Instructor Brevard Community College August 2003 – December 2006 (3 years 5 months) Instructor of Prep Writing, Prep Reading

Reporter Florida Today August 2000 – May 2004 (3 years 10 months)

*Wrote, compiled and posted breaking news stories for online Web site floridatoday.com as well as print editions of Florida Today.

*Web production: Responsible for production, proofing and multimedia components of floridatoday.com.

*Collaborated as on-air personality with news partner WKMG Local 6 ( CBS) First News.

*Position required fast thinking, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure with constant deadlines.

Education:

Queens University of Charlotte BA, English/Communications, 1993 – 1995 Activities and Societies: Chamber Singers, student government, college newspaper, YMCA

Honors:

Member Phi Theta Kappa national honor society

Member, Florida Council of Teacher’s of English

Member, Society of Professional Journalists

Knight Center for Specialized Journalism Fellowship, University of Maryland